"Brick barge"

Caddo

Chaparra

a seaport in northeastern Cuba
also Spanish for "cowboy" or slang for "shorty"

Built:

1906, Scotland, as Tinhow

Specs:

( 249 x 38 ft ) 1510 gross tons, 29 crew

Sunk:

Sunday October 27, 1918
struck mine laid by U-117 - 6 casualties

Depth:

80 ft

Today the Chaparra lies in 80 ft of water on a sandy bottom. Her hull lies on its port side, and is flattened out. The bow offers the most relief off the bottom. Her boilers and engine still visible, some portions covered by large hull plates. She is generally a good lobster wreck. Artifacts can still be found, digging is usually needed. She is sometimes called the Offshore Barge. A mine from the U-117 also sank the San Saba.

Unable to keep way in rough seas because of failing engines, the wood-hulled Charlemagne Tower was running for the shore to beach herself when she foundered and sank. Her remains consist of a low debris field, boiler, etc. Also known as the "Cedar Creek Wreck."

F.F. Clain

clam boat

This site is really just a jumble of machinery. Anything resembling a ship has long-since disappeared. Various clues around the site would seem to indicate a wooden-hulled trawler, probably built before the war ( WWII ) and sunk some time after.

Gassoon

Another schooner barge or sailing ship. Close to shore and very near the
Maurice Tracy. It is sometimes a second or third dive because of this. She's in 70 feet of water on a sandy seafloor. Lots of wood walls and some decking, its been better for spearfishing lately rather than bugs, but that'll depend on when she was last dived.

Named after the fishing boat that found the spot.

Harry Rush

The Harry Rush is described as a freighter by Krotee, not always the most reliable source. The wreck commonly known as the Harry Rush is a sailing ship. The wreck is the typical three parallel wooden walls, very low-lying, with some steam machinery and chain pile at the west end. The orientation of the wreck is unusual, as if it sank while running for the shore, rather than riding out a storm. The absence of towing bits makes it likely this was a true sailing ship rather than a schooner barge.

Peerless

Persephone

In Greek mythology, Persephone, the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Demeter, was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld. Eventually, an agreement was reached wherein Persephone would spend part of the year with Hades in the underworld, and the rest with her parents in Olympus, resulting in the seasons: when she is away, her grieving mother, the earth goddess, ignores her duties and the earth becomes barren - winter.

Built:

1926, Germany

Specs:

( 468 x 63 ft ) 8426 gross tons, 37 crew

Sunk:

Monday May 25, 1942
torpedoed by U-593 - 9 casualties

Depth:

55 ft

The bow of the Persephone was broken off and towed to New York by salvagers. 21,000 barrels of oil were saved, and her midship house was removed intact and placed on the tanker Livingston Roe. The rest of the wreck was blown up by the Coast Guard after being struck more than once by passing vessels.

Only a debris field of overlapping hull plates remains, no longer ship-like. Many of the plates are twisted into fantastic shapes that would undoubtedly fetch a high price on the modern art market if they were above water.

"Sachem"

The "Sachem" wreck is typical of the remains of many unknown wooden sailing ships that are found off the coast. Three parallel sets of ribs and scattered decking between provide good habitat for lobster. The wreck sits in 60' of water on a clean sandy bottom and visibility is usually good on this site. Fairly large and scattered, it also provides good opportunity for the spearfisherman.

San Saba ( "Magnolia" )

San Saba is a river in central Texas, a tributary of the Colorado River of Texas.

Built:

1879, Chester PA USA, as Colorado

Specs:

( 306 x 39 ft ) 2458 gross tons, 37 crew

Sunk:

Friday October 4, 1918
struck mine laid by U-117 - 30 casualties

Depth:

80 ft

Being a hazard to navigation, the iron hulled San Saba was demolished a week after sinking. Today she sits in 80 ft of water in two mangled pieces of wreckage. The bow section is a jumble of hull plates, with winches and other machinery still visible. The stern section, some 250 ft away is also broken up. The boilers are still visible at the end closest to the bow. Her propeller can still be found, as well as wreckage off to the starboard side. Many artifacts can still be found. Glassware, brass, .22 caliber bullets, and china are still being brought up with a little digging. The San Saba is sometimes called the "Southwest Barge", or the "Magnolia Wreck", for the anti-friction metal bars she was carrying.

Sea Hag

A large wooden sailing ship, more intact than most. The hull is almost complete, 8-10 feet high, with a Navy-style stockless anchor in one side of the bow, and bowsprit lying in the sand below. The bowsprit indicates that this was a true sailing ship, and not a
schooner barge. I saw no sign of towing bits, bow or stern. The stern is broken down.

Troop Carrier

This wreck is described only as a "Troop Carrier" from World War II. Given its location, I would guess that what is meant by this is most likely a landing craft; probably lost in an accident during an amphibious training exercise by the Army.

William R. Farrell

This small harbor tug was bought by someone who wanted to convert it to some other-than-tug use, but it was lost and is now sitting on its port side in 55 ft of water, with the port railing right at the sand. The starboard hull is completely exposed, and there is an opening through it into the engine room that is large enough for a diver to enter. Apparently there was a failed attempt to salvage the engine. There are also two less hazardous entry points - the topside access, which is very large, and a port side hatchway.

Otherwise, the wreck is in pretty good shape, and covered with white cold-water corals which gave it a "glow" in the clear shallow water. On this dive we had 60+ feet vis everywhere except within about 5 ft of the sand - blue 68°F water above the thermocline. There were baitfish and a large-ish Barracuda there, along with a large collection of Conger Eels and other common Atlantic shore fish. We also saw a juvenile Spotfin Butterfly hiding in one of the starboard side fenders. A fun wreck to explore inside and out, especially given the warm, clear water.

Also known as the "Harvey Cedars Wreck"

Description courtesy of diver Art Greenberg

"Yellow Flag"

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Disclaimer:

I make no claim as to the accuracy, validity, or appropriateness of any information found in this website. I will not be responsible for the consequences of any action that is based upon information found here. Scuba diving is an adventure sport, and as always, you alone are responsible for your own safety and well being.